I did consider taking the calcium supplement late in the evening and only eating food from the bean family not later than mid day. Other than that, giving up beans/legumes all together but they do give so many health benefits. Seems rice is another that contains Phytates.

Apparently according to a site ‘American Bone Health’ probiotic lactobacillus helps counteract the affect of the legumes. Maybe have a read up on that. I eat KoKo milk substitute yoghurt that has probiotics in it. Finally they are putting live cultures in non dairy milks.

You can't look at things in isolation - if you're eating a variety of foods you'll achieve an overall balance. Bean types are not all the same when it comes to phytates and lectins and cooking methods.

Keep in mind that the Mediterranean Diet is the most widely studied and healthiest diet in the world being the cornerstone of the 7 blue zone societies that exhibit unusual longevity.

So relax and continue to enjoy your meals with some minor adjustments.

From my experience, any measurements of our health and food intake, the researchers have their way. I was asked to look a video clip of a research, I gave my comments, no one liked it because I told what I saw !!!!

Any way it is not my loss!

Just watch what you eat and balance it, enjoy life, when the time is up we all are going to go!

It is very difficult to extend the number of BPM the mother nature gave.

Check out the website of Dr Sarah Myhill. Osteoporosis is more than being about calcium - she gives lots of good information. If you are taking VitD then you will be improving the uptake of calcium from foods. Also magnesium and VitK2-MK7 are important co-factors.

Raised blood pressure can be a symptom rather than a condition in its own right. Have you had your Thyroid checked ? - I often read about the effects of Low/High Thyroid has on blood pressure. How are your Adrenals ?

Ooer. Sticky wicket. I can tell you what I've found, but I'm not medically trained.

Doctor Rosedale asserts that osteoporosis is rarely a result of lack of calcium. It is hormonal miscommunication from excessively high insulin levels that cause the calcium to be laid down in the heart and circulatory system instead of being used for remodelling the bones as it should. drrosedale.com/blog/2011/11...

Load bearing exercise is good, but you need to restrict your consumption of high-glycaemic foods, anomalies such as reduced-fat milk products or baked beans even though they are low-Gi, and also lean protein raises insulin higher than it would have if it had been kept with natural fat.

The only baked beans that I might occasionally buy are organic ones that don't have added sugar.

Re calcium supplements, it has long been considered by some progressive medics that it isn't a good idea to take them - especially if you're not taking magnesium, and if the type of calcium you're consuming is calcium carbonate (which is, basically, chalk). Cardiologist Dr William Davis has talked about these issues over the years, as has Cardiologist Dr Thomas Levy and others. 🖖🏻

Don't most of the no-added-sugar ones use artificial sweeteners, stevia or fruit concentrates? I'm not sure any of those are brilliant for health either, so you're probably right to keep it to "occasionally".

I think DIY bean salads are far better than baked beans, but I could be wrong.

I'm not a baked bean evangelist. I rarely eat baked beans but, if I want some, I have some - organic, if possible. If I dine out and baked beans are there, I drain the sauce and eat the beans. I don't get my pants/knickers in a twist about it. 🖖🏻

No, I just find the frequent focus on baked beans bizarre. It's pretty simple. We can choose to eat them, or not. We can choose to have them organic, or not. We can drain the sauce from them, or not. We can go without, or not. 🤔

South Asian food, using grains and soaking used for breakfast, reading all the information above, who ever invented the food, may be did not realise by soaking rice and urad dhal and leaving it over night to ferment and cooking it for breakfast had benefits. Another one vadi again it is made from soaked rice and dhal and another one dhal cake. Always learning.

Thank you Sandy and thank you everybody for your very interesting comments and links to articles which have been so useful in making a decision. I shall try to increase my calcium from food instead of taking a supplement, continue taking Vit K2, Vit C, magnesium and Vit D3.